This Specification describes how the ODP Trading Function can be realised using information entries and support mechanisms of the OSI Directory. This Specification is to be used in conjunction with the ODP Trading Function Standard (ITU-T Rec. X.950 | ISO/IEC 13235-1). If there are any discrepancies between the prescriptive statements in ITU-T Rec. X.950 | ISO/IEC 13235-1 and those in this Specification, the prescriptive statements in ITU-T Rec. X.950 | ISO/IEC 13235-1 take precedence.

The scope of this Specification is:

? standardised templates for Trading Function information objects in the DIT;

? descriptions of mapping of Trading Function operations to appropriate Directory operations;

? description of use of other Directory features to provide the support mechanisms for implementing the ODP Trading Function.

This Specification does not prescribe that a trader must be engineered by using OSI Directory. But if OSI Directory is used, this Specification defines standardised templates for information entries (e.g. service offer and link information objects) in the Directory DIT. This Specification does not put any restrictions on where these entries are placed in the Directory DIT. That is, this Specification does not standardise any structure rules. This Specification does describe a mechanism to provide the Trading Function using OSI Directory.

The field of application of this Specification is for the construction of the ODP Trading Function using the OSI Directory, when required.